Original Research - Special Collection: Reception of Biblical Discourse in Africa

The devil, 666 and the COVID-19 vaccine

Boitumelo B. Senokoane
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 77, No 1 | a6924 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i1.6924 | © 2021 Boitumelo B. Senokoane | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 15 June 2021 | Published: 17 November 2021

About the author(s)

Boitumelo B. Senokoane, Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

This article aims to engage the statement of the South African Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng where he made a direct link between the Covid-19 vaccine, the devil and triple-six. The article will try to locate his argument; but above that to engage the statement in relationship to the biblical text of Revelation 13:11–18, which is where the original statement is. There will be an attempt to understand the context of the Book of Revelation and the context of Revelation 13:11–18. Some Christian and churches have been claiming that the vaccine contains foetal tissues or microchips or are construing associations between vaccines ingredients and the devil. Others talk about how coronavirus vaccines and masks contain or herald the ‘mark of the beast’, a reference to an apocalyptic and or a passage from the Book of Revelation that suggests that the Antichrist will test Christians by asking them to put a mark on their bodies. The article will further engage the relationship between science and religion and or reason and faith.

Contribution: The article contributes to the theological discourses of interpretation, translation and understanding of the biblical texts in their contexts. The article engages the method of theology of reading the text from behind.


Keywords

666; beast; Covid-19; context; religion; science; faith; reason

Metrics

Total abstract views: 2861
Total article views: 4924

 

Crossref Citations

1. Facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among women in two regions of Ghana: A qualitative study
Grace Frempong Afrifa-Anane, Reuben Tete Larbi, Bright Addo, Martin Wiredu Agyekum, Frank Kyei-Arthur, Margaret Appiah, Clara Opoku Agyemang, Ignatius Great Sakada, Peter M. Mugo
PLOS ONE  vol: 17  issue: 8  first page: e0272876  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272876